Ambulatory Velocity in Crowded and Uncrowded Conditions

1973 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Bowerman
Keyword(s):  
Walking Speed ◽  
Crowded Condition ◽  
Physical Constraints ◽  
Standard Distance ◽  
Environment Capacity ◽  
Normal Speed ◽  
User Density ◽  
Walking Speeds ◽  
Behavior Sequences

The time individuals spent walking a standard distance on a sidewalk was unobtrusively observed under 2 conditions. In a crowded condition the distribution of walking speeds ( n = 20) was skewed towards fast speeds. This was interpreted as being due to physical constraints against walking slower than the pace of the crowd and freedom to move faster. In an uncrowded condition the distribution of walking speeds ( n = 20) was skewed towards slow speeds. This was interpreted as being due to norms which limit walking speed and the lack of normative or physical constraints against moving slower than the “normal” speed. The findings were generalized to other settings where user density and environment capacity interact to determine the pace at which people move through behavior sequences.

scholarly journals Myofascial Release of the Hamstrings Improves Physical Performance—A Study of Young Adults

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 674
Author(s):  
Keisuke Itotani ◽  
Kanta Kawahata ◽  
Wakana Takashima ◽  
Wakana Mita ◽  
Hitomi Minematsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Joint Movement ◽  
Myofascial Release ◽  
Functional Reach Test ◽  
Hamstring Flexibility ◽  
Walking Speeds

Physical performance is mainly assessed in terms of gait speed, chair rise capacity, and balance skills, and assessments are often carried out on the lower limbs. Such physical performance is largely influenced by the strength of the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles. Flexibility of the hamstrings is important because quadriceps muscle activity influences the hip flexion angle. Therefore, hamstring flexibility is essential to improve physical performance. In this study, Myofascial Release (MFR) was applied to the hamstrings to evaluate its effects. MFR on the hamstrings was performed on 17 young adults. Physical function and physical performance were measured before, immediately after, and 5 days after the MFR intervention: finger floor distance (FFD), range of motion (ROM) of the straight leg raising test (SLR), standing long jump (SLJ), squat jump (SJ), functional reach test (FRT), comfortable walking speeds (C-walking speed), and maximum walking speeds (M-walking speed). The results of the analysis show a significant increase in FFD (−2.6 ± 8.9 vs. 0.4 ± 9.4 vs. 2.4 ± 8.9, p < 0.01), SLJ (185.6 ± 44.5 vs. 185.0 ± 41.8 vs. 196.6 ± 40.1, p < 0.01), and M-walking speed (2.9 ± 0.6 vs. 3.0 ± 0.6 vs. 3.3 ± 0.6, p < 0.01). This study has shown that MFR for hamstrings not only improves flexibility but also increases M-walking speed and physical performance of the SLJ. As MFR is safe and does not involve joint movement, it may be useful for maintaining and improving performance and flexibility during inactivity and for stretching before exercise.

Pedestrian Behavior at Signalized Intersection Crosswalks: Observational Study of Factors Associated with Distracted Walking, Pedestrian Violations, and Walking Speed

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (35) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan J. Russo ◽  
Emmanuel James ◽  
Cristopher Y. Aguilar ◽  
Edward J. Smaglik
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Signalized Intersections ◽  
Video Data ◽  
High Definition ◽  
Pedestrian Behavior ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Walking Speeds

In the past two decades, cell phone and smartphone use in the United States has increased substantially. Although mobile phones provide a convenient way for people to communicate, the distraction caused by the use of these devices has led to unintended traffic safety and operational consequences. Although it is well recognized that distracted driving is extremely dangerous for all road users (including pedestrians), the potential impacts of distracted walking have not been as comprehensively studied. Although practitioners should design facilities with the safety, efficiency, and comfort of pedestrians in mind, it is still important to investigate certain pedestrian behaviors at existing facilities to minimize the risk of pedestrian–vehicle crashes, and to reduce behaviors that may unnecessarily increase delay at signalized intersections. To gain new insights into factors associated with distracted walking, pedestrian violations, and walking speed, 3,038 pedestrians were observed across four signalized intersections in New York and Arizona using high-definition video cameras. The video data were reduced and summarized, and an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model was estimated to analyze factors affecting walking speeds. In addition, binary logit models were estimated to analyze both pedestrian distraction and pedestrian violations. Ultimately, several site- and pedestrian-specific variables were found to be significantly associated with pedestrian distraction, violation behavior, and walking speeds. The results provide important information for researchers, practitioners, and legislators, and may be useful in planning strategies to reduce or mitigate the impacts of pedestrian behavior that may be considered unsafe or potentially inefficient.

Effects of Varying Overground Walking Speeds on Lower-Extremity Muscle Synergies in Healthy Individuals

Motor Control ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Manuel J. Escalona ◽  
Daniel Bourbonnais ◽  
Michel Goyette ◽  
Damien Le Flem ◽  
Cyril Duclos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Nonnegative Matrix Factorization ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Nonnegative Matrix ◽  
Gait Training ◽  
Muscle Synergies ◽  
Training Strategy ◽  
Lower Extremity Muscle ◽  
Walking Speeds ◽  
Weight Acceptance

The effects of walking speeds on lower-extremity muscle synergies (MSs) were investigated among 20 adults who walked 20 m at SLOW (0.6 ± 0.2 m/s), natural (NAT; 1.4 ± 0.1 m/s), and FAST (1.9 ± 0.1 m/s) speeds. Surface electromyography of eight lower-extremity muscles was recorded before extracting MSs using a nonnegative matrix factorization algorithm. Increasing walking speed tended to merge MSs associated with weight acceptance and limb deceleration, whereas reducing walking speed does not change the number and composition of MSs. Varying gait speed, particularly decreasing speed, may represent a gait training strategy needing additional attention given its effects on MSs.

Gait worsening and the microlesion effect following deep brain stimulation for essential tremor

2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (8) ◽  
pp. 913-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Roemmich ◽  
Jaimie A Roper ◽  
Robert S Eisinger ◽  
Jackson N Cagle ◽  
Lauren Maine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Brain Stimulation ◽  
Essential Tremor ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Stimulation Parameters ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Walking Speeds ◽  
Deep Brain

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of unilateral thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) on walking in persons with medication-refractory essential tremor (ET).MethodsWe performed laboratory-based gait analyses on 24 persons with medication-refractory ET before and after unilateral thalamic DBS implantation. Normal and tandem walking parameters were analysed across sessions (PRE-DBS/DBS OFF/DBS ON) by repeated measures analyses of variance. Pearson’s correlations assessed whether changes in walking after DBS were global (ie, related across gait parameters). Baseline characteristics, lead locations and stimulation parameters were analysed as possible contributors to gait effects.ResultsDBS minimally affected gait at the cohort level. However, 25% of participants experienced clinically meaningful gait worsening. Walking speed decreased by >30% in two participants and by >10% in four others. Decreased walking speed correlated with increased gait variability, indicating global gait worsening in affected participants. The worsening persisted even after the stimulation was turned off. Participants with worse baseline tandem walking performance may be more likely to experience post-DBS gait worsening; the percentage of tandem missteps at baseline was nearly three times higher and tandem walking speeds were approximately 30% slower in participants who experienced gait worsening. However, these differences in tandem walking in persons with gait worsening as compared with those without worsening were not statistically significant. Lead locations and stimulation parameters were similar in participants with and without gait worsening.ConclusionGlobal gait worsening occurred in 25% of participants with unilateral DBS for medication-refractory ET. The effect was present on and off stimulation, likely indicating a microlesion effect.

Changes in the Dynamic Stability of Walking in Active Healthy Older Adults Independent of Changes in Walking Speed

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Gu Kang ◽  
Jonathan B. Dingwell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Dynamic Stability ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Leg Strength ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Walking Speeds

Older adults commonly walk slower, which many believe helps improve their walking stability. However, they remain at increased risk of falls. We investigated how differences in age and walking speed independently affect dynamic stability during walking, and how age-related changes in leg strength and ROM affected this relationship. Eighteen active healthy older and 17 younger adults walked on a treadmill for 5 minutes each at each of 5 speeds (80–120% of preferred). Local divergence exponents and maximum Floquet multipliers (FM) were calculated to quantify each subject’s responses to small inherent perturbations during walking. These older adults exhibited the same preferred walking speeds as the younger subjects (p = 0.860). However, these older adults still exhibited greater local divergence exponents (p&lt;0.0001) and higher maximum FM (p&lt;0.007) than young adults at all walking speeds. These older adults remained more unstable (p&lt;0.04) even after adjusting for declines in both strength and ROM. In both age groups, local divergence exponents decreased at slower speeds and increased at faster speeds (p&lt;0.0001). Maximum FM showed similar changes with speed (p&lt;0.02). The older adults in this study were healthy enough to walk at normal speeds. However, these adults were still more unstable than the young adults, independent of walking speed. This greater instability was not explained by loss of leg strength and ROM. Slower speeds led to decreased instability in both groups.

scholarly journals Control Reference Parameter for Stance Assistance Using a Passive Controlled Ankle Foot Orthosis—A Preliminary Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (20) ◽  
pp. 4416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimas Adiputra ◽  
Mohd Azizi Abdul Rahman ◽  
Ubaidillah ◽  
Saiful Amri Mazlan ◽  
Nurhazimah Nazmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Standard Error ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Parameters Estimation ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthosis ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Reference Parameters ◽  
Walking Speeds ◽  
Foot Orthosis

This paper aims to present a preliminary study of control reference parameters for stance assistance among different subjects and walking speeds using a passive-controlled ankle foot orthosis. Four young male able-bodied subjects with varying body mass indexes (23.842 ± 4.827) walked in three walking speeds of 1, 3, and 5 km/h. Two control references, average ankle torque (aMa), and ankle angular velocity (aω), which can be implemented using a magnetorheological brake, were measured. Regression analysis was conducted to identify suitable control references in the three different phases of the stance. The results showed that aω has greater correlation (p) with body mass index and walking speed compared to aMa in the whole stance phase (p1(aω) = 0.666 > p1(aMa) = 0.560, p2(aω) = 0.837 > p2(aMa) = 0.277, and p3(aω) = 0.839 > p3(aMa) = 0.369). The estimation standard error (Se) of the aMa was found to be generally higher than of aω (Se1(aMa) = 2.251 > Se1(aω) = 0.786, Se2(aMa) = 1.236 > Se2(aω) = 0.231, Se3(aMa) = 0.696 < Se3(aω) = 0.755). Future studies should perform aω estimation based on body mass index and walking speed, as suggested by the higher correlation and lower standard error as compared to aMa. The number of subjects and walking speed scenarios should also be increased to reduce the standard error of control reference parameters estimation.

scholarly journals Bilateral vestibulopathy and age: experimental considerations for testing dynamic visual acuity on a treadmill

2020 ◽  
Vol 267 (S1) ◽  
pp. 265-272
Author(s):  
D. Starkov ◽  
M. Snelders ◽  
F. Lucieer ◽  
A. M. L. Janssen ◽  
M. Pleshkov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Static Condition ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Dynamic Visual Acuity ◽  
Bilateral Vestibulopathy ◽  
Drop Out Rate ◽  
Visual Acuity Loss ◽  
Walking Speeds

Abstract Introduction Bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) can affect visual acuity in dynamic conditions, like walking. This can be assessed by testing Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) on a treadmill at different walking speeds. Apart from BVP, age itself might influence DVA and the ability to complete the test. The objective of this study was to investigate whether DVA tested while walking, and the drop-out rate (the inability to complete all walking speeds of the test) are significantly influenced by age in BVP-patients and healthy subjects. Methods Forty-four BVP-patients (20 male, mean age 59 years) and 63 healthy subjects (27 male, mean age 46 years) performed the DVA test on a treadmill at 0 (static condition), 2, 4 and 6 km/h (dynamic conditions). The dynamic visual acuity loss was calculated as the difference between visual acuity in the static condition and visual acuity in each walking condition. The dependency of the drop-out rate and dynamic visual acuity loss on BVP and age was investigated at all walking speeds, as well as the dependency of dynamic visual acuity loss on speed. Results Age and BVP significantly increased the drop-out rate (p ≤ 0.038). A significantly higher dynamic visual acuity loss was found at all speeds in BVP-patients compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Age showed no effect on dynamic visual acuity loss in both groups. In BVP-patients, increasing walking speeds resulted in higher dynamic visual acuity loss (p ≤ 0.036). Conclusion DVA tested while walking on a treadmill, is one of the few “close to reality” functional outcome measures of vestibular function in the vertical plane. It is able to demonstrate significant loss of DVA in bilateral vestibulopathy patients. However, since bilateral vestibulopathy and age significantly increase the drop-out rate at faster walking speeds, it is recommended to use age-matched controls. Furthermore, it could be considered to use an individual “preferred” walking speed and to limit maximum walking speed in older subjects when testing DVA on a treadmill.

Walking Speed at Self-Selected Exercise Pace Is Lower but Energy Cost Higher in Older Versus Younger Women

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynnette M. Jones ◽  
Debra L. Waters ◽  
Michael Legge
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
Energy Cost ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Metabolic Cost ◽  
Energetic Cost ◽  
Energy Costs ◽  
Energy Equivalent ◽  
Younger Women ◽  
Exercise Modality ◽  
Walking Speeds

Background:Walking is usually undertaken at a speed that coincides with the lowest metabolic cost. Aging however, alters the speed–cost relationship, as preferred walking speeds decrease and energy costs increase. It is unclear to what extent this relationship is affected when older women undertake walking as an exercise modality. The aim of this study was to compare the energetic cost of walking at a self-selected exercise pace for 30 min in older and younger women.Methods:The energetic cost of walking was assessed using the energy equivalent of oxygen consumption measured in 18 young (25 to 49 y) and 20 older (50 to 79 y) women who were asked to walk at their “normal” exercise pace on a motorized treadmill for 30 min.Results:The mass-specific net cost of walking (Cw) was 15% higher and self-selected walking speed was 23% lower in the older women than in the younger group. When speed was held constant, the Cw was 0.30 (J · .kg−1 · m−1) higher in the older women.Conclusions:Preferred exercise pace incurs a higher metabolic cost in older women and needs be taken into consideration when recommending walking as an exercise modality.

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